SALEM, WV. – It was another tight contest for the Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team and Alderson Broaddus on Saturday afternoon. The Battlers defeated the Panthers earlier this season in a one-possession game as Wesleyan suffered the same fate the second time around. AB escaped with a 64-61 victory on its senior day.
 
The game originally scheduled for Philippi, West Virginia was moved to Salem University due to a facility safety issues. The change of venue forced both teams to feel as if they were playing on the road. The Panthers erased an eight-point second half deficit only to fall in the final seconds of the game.
 
With 10 minutes left in the contest, the Panthers (9-14, 8-8 GMAC) trailed 50-42. A lay-up by Ben Sisson followed by a stop and three-point basket by Adam Goetz quickly brought the Panthers back within one possession (50-47). Wesleyan hovered just behind the Battlers (8-17, 6-10 GMAC) until the four-minute mark with Nathan Boyle gave the Panthers a 59-58 lead after his three-point basket.
 
Bruce Spruell converted two free-throws to return a one-point edge and after miss from the Panthers, Spruell's jumper extended the lead to 62-59 with two minutes left in the game. Wesleyan answered on the next possessions with Goetz, who got into the lane for an easy two.
 
AB missed a long three with 52 seconds left in the game as the Panthers grabbed the rebound. Goetz again got the rim, but this time he was fouled. With 24 seconds left Goetz missed both from the charity stripe, but the Panthers still had one more chance.
 
A steal by Zach Hopewell gave the Panthers possession with 16 seconds left in the game. Out of a Panthers timeout, Hopewell curled back to the top of the key and found an open look for three. His attempted rattled halfway in and popped out allowing the Battlers to escape with the victory.
 
The Panthers enjoyed a seven-point lead in the open half, but went into the locker-room tied at 31. The Battlers surged ahead at the start of the second half, only to have the Panthers comeback in the final 10 minutes.
 
Fresh off a career-high on Thursday, Sisson finished with another double-digit performance, 10 points and five rebounds. Goetz led the team with 19 points and six rebounds. Hopewell produced another solid game as he added 15 points.
 
The Panthers will travel to Oakland City on Tuesday for their final non-conference contest of the season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM CT.
 
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